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Greetings and Salutations,
As you may have noticed, there was no January Newsletter last month.
Despite my best efforts to get one out, I was just too darn
busy--travelling to flyfishing shows and speaking to clubs around the
country--and, when home, tying flies and catching up on orders as well as
working on a revision of the Fly Fisherman's Guide to Boston Harbor.
Busy beyond belief at times--but it sure makes the winter fly by.
Flyfishing Shows Past and Future
The big shows in January were the ones in Marlboro, MA and Somerset,
NJ, both well-attended despite sub-zero temperatures. As always, the best
part of these shows is the people who attend them, the opportunity to
renew and deepen old friendships and to make new ones, as well as to meet
with
many whose names I knew only as names on an order form or as a voice on
the telephone. Always a special delight.
Shows are also just that: "shows". They give people like me a chance
to show my handiwork--to show off the newest flies--What's new, Jack?
is the most frequently asked question--the newest books or materials,or
perhaps to demonstrate an unusual tying technique. In turn, I also get
a chance--during a rare free moment--to see what other tyers are doing,
what new materials or equipment have come onto the market, to try out
new products, etc. All in all, and despite the hectic nature of these
shows, a real opportunity to both share and to learn.
Shows also give me an opportunity to learn what interests the
people who come to watch me tie. If I have the material I'm up for
anything and usually take requests from the onlookers. In Marlboro,
the interest was mainly in fresh water flies: the Soft Hackle Streamer,
the Sparrow, and the Pheasant Hopper topped the list of requests.
In New Jersey, it was salt water flies that were of greater interest,
with my Gurgler being at the top of everyone's list (especially since
Lefty Kreh just recently called it one of his top favorite flies of
all time). And so I tied Gurglers and more Gurglers, just about every
variation I could think of just to keep my own interest level up:
Original Gurglers, Double Gurglers, Sand Eel Gurglers (this was the
best-selling fly of the show, by the way), Large Eel Gurglers, Crab
Gurglers, Bastard Gurglers, Furglers,Trout Gurglers, you name it;
Gurglers with every conceivable shell color--from the mild to the wild--
and with tails of bucktail, marabou, bastard sheep, and even the soft
hair from the chest of an Australian Sheep Dog (a fur that really
intrigued me, by the way).
One frequent comment about some of the Gurglers I tied
(especially the more exotic-shelled ones) was that they should be
in the Museum of Modern Art rather than tied onto the end of a leader
to catch a fish. Maybe someday I'll get MOMA to mount an exhibit
but in the meantime I'll use them to catch fish.
By the way, I have ten Willow Gurglers (tied at Somerset, NJ, with
the Australian Sheep Dog hair) for sale. Yours for only $7.00 apiece. I
may never tie others like them (no dog) so you might consider them a
collector's
item. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you a jpeg. In fact,
if you're interested in any of the flies I've mentioned send me an email
and
I'll send you a jpeg along with tying instructions for the fly.
Send in the Clones
Also interesting to many of the people watching me tie was the Bastard
Gurgler, an exceptionally long-tailed Double Gurgler that has proven very
successful on stripers, pike, trevally, and many other large game fish.
This fly is tied with what is called Bastard Sheep Hair (from a cloned
sheep--not
Dolly--but one that has exceptionally long 9"-12" fine--but
strong--hair). I
didn't have any to sell at the show but I do now,imported from Norway,
about
twenty packs of the hair in three colors: white, yellow, and black. If
you're
interested, the packs are seven bucks apiece (the price may come down
later if
I find there's an interest and I can purchase the stuff in quantity).
Add $3.00 S&H (total) for anything you might purchase.
UPCOMING SHOWS IN FEBRUARY and MARCH
I'll be appearing at the following shows.
February 20, 21, 22 Seattle, WA
March 6, 7 Ontario, CA
Wilmington, MA March 13, 14
Taunton, MA (Bear's Den) March 24
Fly Tying Classes
In January I began conducting flytying classes at my new digs in
Winthrop, MA. These clases were quite successful and a lot of fun and
I've decided to add some dates for February and March.
Saturday February 28 Mixed Salt Water
Tuesday March 2 Fresh Water Flies
Saturday March 20 Striper Flies
Classes will be limited to only four students per class, the number
that can be seated comfortably around my dining room table).
These classes are not suitable for beginners but will be open to
intermediate and advanced tyers only. The emphasis will be on innovative
and imaginative tying techniques and patterns, both fresh and salt water,
with a concentration on effective, fish-taking patterns as well as
understanding various and unusual tying materials and learning to tie
effectively and imaginatively with them. Solving individual tying
problems that
students may have will also be worked into the session as well as
individual
requests when possible.
If these classes are of interest to you, please let me know as soon
as possible since they're sure to fill up quickly. Email me
(jack@jackgartside.com) or write to me: Jack Gartside 14 Beach
Road,Winthrop, MA 02152 and send $20.00 to reserve your space.
New Selections
Nymph & Wet Fly Selection
This selection contains ten of my favorite nymphs and wet flies.
Included are two Gartside Sparrows, 2 Philo Caddis Emergers, 2 Philo
Mayfly Emergers, 1 Peacock & Black Soft Hackle Wet Fly, 1 Red Squirrel
Trout Bug, and 1 Black/Olive "Secret" Wooly Bugger. Tied in a most
effective mix of sizes and colors.
Catalog Price: $30.00 Your price: $27.00
Gurglers & Sliders
This selection contains three original Gartside Gurglers and two original
Gartside Sliders in various and effective sizes and colors. Because it’s
a
commotion fly, the Gurgler is at its best when the water’s surface is
relatively calm.
Although the Slider (tied in the double-shelled style) is also effective
in quiet
water, it really comes into its own when the wind is up or the water is
choppy or
disturbed. Fish the slider either on the surface or pull it under and let
it swim
back up to the surface just like a wounded baitfish. Deadly. Fish it also
deep on
a sinking line around sunken structure. Fish these flies for stripers,
bluefish,
bass, pike or just about any gamefish that will take a topwater fly.
Price per selection: $ 27.00 Your price: $25.00
BOOKS AVAILABLE
I've just recently uncovered some slightly damaged copies of the
following books:
Fly Patterns for the Adventurous Tyer, Vol. I and Vol. ii Each $5.00
(Usually $10.00)
Flies for the 21st Century Each $8.00
Scratching the Surface Each $7.00 Usually $14.95
Total S&H is $3.50 no matter how much you order.
If you're interested please let me know and I'll save you a copy. I
only
have about five of each on hand.
The Flyfisherman's Guide to Boston Harbor is now completely sold out.
I'll let you know as soon as the next printing becomes available. Thank
you
for you patience.
Finally, if you plan to order flies and need them in a hurry, please
order soon. I'll be taking some time off in April for fishing and may get
a bit behind in things as the fishing
season approaches.
New Quiz
There's a new quiz up on the website: www.jackgartside.com Give it
a try.
The winner of the last quiz was Frank Sessa or Orchard Park, NY.
Congratulations, Frank. Hope you like the flies I sent you.
Until the next newsletter, Happy Fishing !
Jack
This newsletter comes to you directly from Jack Gartside, 14 Beach Road,
Winthrop, MA 02152 Tel: 617-846-5984
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